Heart Health (Detailed Profile)
Heart disease remains a leading cause of premature mortality, and the most important markers are not measured on a standard NHS cholesterol test. The Gold panel investigates cardiovascular structure, function and risk in depth — combining advanced lipid particle analysis with cardiac muscle and heart-strain markers used by cardiologists.
- Advanced Lipid Particles: Full lipoprotein subfractionation (LDL, HDL, VLDL), Apolipoproteins A1 & B, Lp(a), and small dense LDL — a far more accurate measure of atherogenic risk than LDL-C alone.
- Cardiac Function Markers: NT-proBNP (early heart-strain and heart-failure indicator) and high-sensitivity Troponin I (myocardial injury marker used to detect subclinical cardiac damage).
- Vascular Inflammation: High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), fibrinogen, and homocysteine — markers linked to plaque instability and stroke risk.
- Diabetes & Insulin Resistance: HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and c-peptide.
- Risk Stratification: Results interpreted using validated cardiovascular risk algorithms (QRISK3, ASCVD).
